Foam flotation activated sludge process

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses making a mixed fungal (yeast and yeast-like) system culture adapted to biodegradation of spent sulfite liquor (SSL) comprising the steps of exposing a mixed culture system (being a sludge from a sewage treatment plant) to increasing concentration of SSL until the fungus becomes acclimatized to SSL of the desired concentration. The resulting biotic population comprises a fungal mixture, of yeast and yeast-like cultures. It was based on an autolytic culture system: Phialophora jeanselmei, Phialophora richardsiae, Hyalodendron liqnicola, Trichosporon infestans and Candida tropicalis. A method and apparatus are disclosed for biodegrading both the soluble substrates in a spent sulfite liquor and the biological solids produced therefrom by a potentially autolytic culture system. The method comprises the steps of adding a nutrient medium, adjusting the pH to mildly acid or neutral condition, feeding the mixture to a fungal culture inoculated fermentor with agitation and with aeration, resulting in foaming of the mixture, said foam carrying with it the fungi and sludge resulting from the fermentation, the suspended solids content of the foam when collapsed being generally not more than half the suspended solids content of the fermentor broth, said foam being processed so as to separate the components into a sludge and a clarified effluent, said sludge being recycled to the fermentor vessel and the clarified effluent prepared for discharge or additional processing. Under optimum operating conditions as much as 85 to 90% BOD removal from spent sulfite liquor is accomplished.

This invention relates to an improvement in the treatment of waste liquor for reduction of the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) thereof. It is of particular interest in the treatment of difficult effluents such as the spent sulfite liquor resulting from production of pulp by the neutral sulfite process, the bisulfite process or the acid sulfite process, or in any process producing an effluent sufficiently high in biologically degradable dissolved solids that it involves a disposal problem.

Biological treatment is applied to pulp mill waste effluents, but these systems operate on low concentrations of spent liquor because of the toxicity of such liquors, and are generally designed to operate at low concentrations of suspended solids (biomass). In addition the sludge produced settles very slowly and creates problems, usually preventing successful continuous operation. Such systems are generally not very efficient when compared with high rate activated sludge processes operating at a high level of suspended solids (SS). Owing to the complexity of suflite liquor (SSL) from the sulfite process, it has been assumed hitherto that SSL could not support the strong microbial growth which is essential to a high rate process for reduction of BOD and for a high degress of autolysis.

In accordance with a program of research carried out at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada, we have developed a microbial culture specially adapted for this purpose and have evaluated its performance. A mixed microbial population originally obtained from domestic sewage survived in and became acclimatized to neutral sulfite semi chemical (NSSC) liquor from the Abitibi Paper Company Ltd. plant at Sturgeon Falls, Ontario during more than a year of continuous feeding. Growth was enhanced by the addition of small amounts of nutrients (ammonia and phosphates), by pH control (adding lime or sodium hydroxide,) and by aeration. The culture then was adapted to and has been maintained in undiluted SSL from the digesters of the Iroquois Falls plant, and has provided the inoculum for all the fermentation studies on which the present specification is based. This yeast culture composition appears to have been very stable throughout the relevant period. It has a high degree of resistance to sulfur dioxide and grows well at an acid pH.

The presence of sulfur dioxide appears to be of some importance in maintaining the stability of the culture. Sulfur dioxide is a strong reducing agent and it kills almost all microbes except yeast and fungi of the present type. The air sparging will oxidize SO₂ to SO₃ thus lessening the toxicity while increasing the acidity and thereby discouraging the growth of extraneous populations.

The present invention differs from known activated sludge processes, in that the biomass and suspended solids in the activated sludge fermentor unit are conveyed as foam-solids directly to a unit where the foam is collapsed and the active bio-sludge recovered for recycle to the activated sludge unit. The foam transfer system is used to reduce the SS levels to a point that settling can be accomplished. This method of transfer also contributes to solids control of the reactor and to autolysis.

Foams are produced in the aeration of many wastes, and especially pulp and paper waste. In conventional practice this must be controlled because it is a deterrent to the mass transfer of oxygen, especially if mechanical surface aerators are used. Foam can become a serious nuisance since it may be several feet deep and can literally cover everything, preventing good maintenance and process control. Antifoams and all types of mechanical devices are used to control and collapse such foams. Such antifoams usually decrease the mass transfer of oxygen in the process. In the present invention foaming is an important part of the process as only bio-sludge entrapped in the foam is collected and transferred to a chamber in the clarifier. Sluge is recovered by collapsing the foam and it is observed to rapidly settle to the bottom of the clarifier and may be recycled in whole or part along with a minimum of liquor back to the activated sludge unit.

In a conventional process biosludge is transferred to a clarifier as a liquid, and no attempt is made to recover foam or the solids present in foam for passage to the clarifier. Wastes which foam can often not be treated by the activated sludge process because of the foaming propensity. This new process, which requires foaming as part of the process, has distinct advantages as it accomplishes the same objectives as a conventional activated sludge process.

The aeration unit will normally be totally enclosed to aid in collection of foam. Also the unit will normally be operated under a moderate positive pressure to facilitate transfer of foam to the clarifier. The process can be conducted in any size unit from a few liters to hundreds of thousands of liters. The prime parameters for a continuous process are retention time of the waste, proper aeration, flotation of the bio-sludge, collapsing of the foam, settling and recovery of sludge, and recycle of such sludge.

An important advantage is that the production of foam is not a problem since it is an integral part of the process. Also, under certain operating conditions and for certain types of waste the bio-sludge generated can be recovered from the clarifier and totally recycled to the aeration unit with subsequent autolysis, and no sludge has to be wasted from the clarifier. It can all be recycled to the activated sludge unit. Thus expensive process equipment required for disposal of excess sludge wastage from the clarifier can be avoided. This problem is so great in the prior art that the conventional activated sludge methods cannot be applied to strong pulp mill waste.

The biological cells and suspended solids in the recycled sludge are efficiently oxidized in the activated sludge unit much as if the chamber were operating as a "biological furnace." Of course, not all the cells are removed from the system in this autolytic-biofurnace, as new cells and catalysts are also synthesized, thus maintaining the system in equilibrium. In test systems studied continuously, they have been operated for 78 days and more without any sludge wastage. The conditions used in such operation are shown separately in several examples.

The present bio-sludge floatation technique is most effective in treating waste which has an inherent tendency to foam. It is also broadly applicable to non-foaming systems to which foaming or floatation agents may be added to induce or sustain the flotation process. Cells become entrapped in the foam and are carried to the surface where they can be removed. It appears that only certain microbes from the aeration vessel are entrapped in the foam and are carried to the clarifier. A foam-activated sludge system operated in this manner has many distinct advantages for treating certain wastes.

It is found that the foam has a lower content of suspended solids (SS) than does the liquid in the fermentor vessel. The suspended solids content, or suspended solids/liquid ratio, of the foam when collapsed may desireably be not more than half that of the fermentor broth. In the usual practice of this invention it will preferably be 1/4 to 1/3, most preferably about 1/3. For example, it has been found that the foam, if "broken" or collapsed into a liquid, contains in one case about 13,000 parts per million suspended solid, compared with the 30 to 50,000 parts per million suspended solids content of the liquid in the fermentor from which the foam was formed. In addition to permitting transfer of liquid from the fermentor vessel with a minimized amount of solids transfer, it has been found that when the foam is broken the suspended solids tend to settle very quickly in the clarifier, thus permitting a relatively high rate of removal of liquid from the fermentor and a more rapid recovery of the bio-sludge for recycle. Thus the foaming step reduces the suspended solids to a level and type that will settle far more rapidly than the suspended solids present in the fermentor medium, which would be the form encountered in a conventional transfer process. In the prior art, the reactor liquid overflow is presented to the clarifier for settling. Any transfer of liquid will reduce the efficiency of the process and should be minimized. However, we do not exclude the possiblity of some direct transfer of a small amount of liquid fermentor broth. This may be tolerated so long as it does not adversely affect the settling characteristics of the suspended solids in the clarifier.

The invention was found to be particularly effective in treating the product of bisulfite high yield process. The process involves the treatment of wood chips with a solution of sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃), and cooking at a high temperature and pressure. The partly cooked soft chips go through the usual blow pit, washing the pulp refining steps. The liquid discharge has a pH of 3 to 4.5 and it is called "spent sulfite liquor."

This effluent stream contains small amounts of sulfur dioxide, wood resins, resin acids, high and low molecular weight fatty acids, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and eugenols, along with large amounts of saccharides and lignosulfonates. The two latter components account for the high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels in SSL. No simple economical chemical recovery process is available for these materials. However, the presence of large concentrations of carbohydrates and other organic compounds particularly qualify this type of waste for biological treatment either to remove BOD or to produce valuable products. The sugar components are the main contributors to the high BOD.

The spent liquor which constitutes the substrate or feed for this process may be very high in dissolved solids. It normally has approximately 7 to 11 percent dissolved solids concentration. This is higher than that described previously for biological treatment processes. The prior art generally deals with materials in the area of 3 to 5 percent dissolved solids and lower.

The BOD₅ is a conventional term. It is defined as the amount of oxygen required by living organisms engaged in the utilization and stabilization of the organic matter present in the wastewater. The standard test involves seeding with sewage, river water, or effluent, and incubating for 5 days at 20° C. In the practice of the present invention, some adjustment to the concentration of the SSL may be necessary or desirable to compensate for the wide variations encountered in plant samples of the SSL. Reference may be made to the book "Standard Methods For the Examination of Water & Waste Water", 13th edition--1971--American Publich Health Association, Inc.

A continous teatment process has now been developed for the biodegradation of SSL, capable of removing nearly 90 percent of the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) of typical high yield sulfite mill effluent. The process may be operated under autolytic conditions with no sludge wastage in which part of the energy generated by the cell also dissolves cells. The process developed can be conducted in any size production vessel; however the autolytic process covered herein was conducted in a pilot scale (48 liter) bioreactor system. Engineering specifications for an industrial process design have been calculated to meet the requirements of the 240 ton per day Abitibi-Iroquois Falls Pulp Mill, to provide maxium BOD₅ removal with little or no sludge wastage while operating in the autolytic mode.

However, this SSL treatment process might also be viewed as a potential source of protein; if retention time is reduced to avoid autolysis, wasted sludge which can be a valuable high protein by-product is produced and it can be recovered, dried and utilized in animal feed. The mixed culture system which was developed for this project is a stable, mixed population, long adapted to undiluted SSL medium and apparently not undergoing mutative changes or selective enrichment which could affect its potency. By chemical analysis it is known to resemble yeast grown on carbohydrates, having an amino acid composition typical of high grade feed supplements. It was found to be comparable to other single cell proteins of the yeast type. The continuous reactor studies, therefore, included brief harvesting periods under conditions favourable to excess sludge production, which were found to be compatible with 50-60% BOD₅ removal. Thus the two operating modes could be used, (1) with basically no sludge removal and (2) with high sludge production.

In one continuous fermentation experiment 80% reduction of BOD₅ was achieved with 2.5 days retention time in the aeration vessel. Suspended solids built up to a maximum of 3.3% (w/v) at the midpoint of the two month run, during which no solids were harvested. Chemical analysis of the sludge detected 40% protein with individual amino acid concentrations suggesting potential nutritional value.

The quality of the SSL after biological treatment has shown significant improvement especially with respect to oxygen demand (BOD₅). The microbes removed most of the sugars and other dissolved organic materials with the exception of lignosulfonates. The present process has successfully reduced the total dissolved solids of the incoming SSL, by using these dissolved solids as a substrate for (aerobic) growth in which biomass is generated and carbon dioxide is liberated to the atmosphere. Excess biomass is removed either by autolytic liquefaction and discharge or by harvesting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides in one aspect, a method for biodegrading a process waste liquor having a propensity to foam comprising aerating and agitating it in a closed fermentation tank, removing foam from the upper part of the fermentor tank, and transferring the foam to a clarifier tank, collapsing the foam in the clarifier tank, collecting the settled sludge, recycling the settled sludge back to the fermentor, and drawing off the treated waste liquor from theclarifier by overflowing it. The process waste liquor may be spent sulfite liquor from a pulp mill.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of biodegrading a spent sulfite liquor by an autolytic mixed fungal (yeast and yeast-like) system, comprising the steps of feeding the mixture to a mixed fungal (yeast and yeast-like) inoculated fermentor with agitation and with aeration, resulting in foaming of the mixture, said foam carrying with it fungus and sludge resulting from the fermentation, the suspended solids content of the foam when collapsed being less than the suspended solids content of the fermentor broth, said foam being conducted to a means for separation into a sludge and a clarified effluent, said sludge being recycled to the fermentor vessel.

Nutrient may be added where required. The pH should desirably be mildly acid or neutral. The SSL will normally have a dissolved solids content of 6 to 14%, or preferably 8 to 10%.

The suspended solids content of the foam will normally be not more than half of the fermentor broth.

The suspended solids in the fermentor vessel may desirably be controlled by adjusting the sludge recycling to maintain the suspended solids in the fermentor vessel at not greater than 60,000 parts per million. The degree of recycling and the rate of the feeding of fresh medium will desirably be held at a level at which constant autolysis may be maintained.

Clarification of collapsed foam is effected in the clarifier by underflow of settled sludge and overflow of treated liquor. The fermentation is normally carried out in a closed fermentor, and the aeration air stream provides the means for forcing the foam from the fermentor.

The spent sulfite liquor should contain not more than 1% (W/V) of sulfur dioxide. Some treatment with lime or sodium hydroxide, or boiling or steam stripping may be desirable to achieve this sulfur dioxide level.

The fermentation will normally be carried out at a temperature in the range of 8° to 40° C., preferably 10° to 35° C., and most preferably 30° to 35° C. A typical fermentor broth biomass may have a suspended solids concentration ranging from 10,000 to 60,000 ppm, preferably 35,000. It may employ a fermentor retention time of 1.5 to 4 days and a clarifier retention time of 0.2 to 2 days. Preferably the fermentor retention time is 2.2 days and the clarifier retention time is 1 day.

The pH in the fermentor is normally maintained between 2 to 8.5, preferably around 3.3.

The dissolved oxygen level in the fermentor is normally not less than 0.3 ppm and preferably between 1.5 to 5 ppm.

In some cases, NH₃ was added to the fermentor broth in a range of 400 to 4,000 ppm and total phosphate added in a range of 400 to 4,000 ppm and with sufficient caustic to maintain an acceptable pH. In a specific case, the NH₃ concentration was 1,330 ppm and phosphate was 1,140 ppm. Preferably the general BOD₅ :N:P ratio is 100:5:1.

As to the foam after collapse, the suspended solids concentration is preferably in the range of 1000 to 30,000 ppm, normally around 12,000 or 13,000 ppm.

In one aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for biodegrading a process waste liquor having a propensity to foam comprising a closed fermentation tank equipped with an agitator, an aerator, an inlet for liquor feed, an inlet for recycled sludge feed, an outlet for removal of foam from the upper part of the fermentor tank, a means for transferring the foam to a clarifier tank, and said clarifier tank being equipped with foam collapsing means, collecting means for settled sludge, means for recycling the biosludge to maintain the suspended solids in the fermentor at the desired level required for operating in the autolytic mode.

In another aspect, this invention provides a method for biodegrading a process waste liquor comprising the steps of exposing the mixed fungal culture system to increasing concentrations of waste liquor until the system becomes acclimatized to waste liquor of a suitable concentration, then treating process waste liquor with the acclimatized fungal culture system, aerating and agitating the mixture in a closed fermentation tank, supplying the fermented mixture to a clarifier tank, collecting settled sludge and recycling all or part thereof to the fermentation tank, and drawing off the treated waste liquor from the clarifier.

The drawing forming a part of this specification shows schematically a method and apparatus adapted to some aspects of the present invention. The drawing shows a feeding tank into which are supplied spent sulfite liquor (SSL), nutrients, and any pH control material required. The SSL will normally contain about 100-500 parts per million (ppm) suspended solids, after gross filtration, mostly in the form of pulp fiber debris. It will frequently also contain about 70,000 to 111,000 ppm of dissolved solids correspondfing to 18,000 to 34,000 ppm, (sometimes 28,000 to 33,000), of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

An advantage of this invention is that the SSL may be treated either without dilution or with minor dilution as compared with normal treatment processes which involve dilution of the order of 10:1 and consequent process difficulties and apparatus capacity requirements due to the handling of a large volume of liquid.

A preferred procedure involves diluting the SSL to about 24,000 or 25,000 ppm BOD before treating it, as a condition for efficient BOD removal and autolytic operation. That mixture from the feeding tank is pumped to a "fermentor" or digester tank supplied with an air inlet, typically providing air under pressure to the lower part of the tank at a rate of about 0.6 vvm (vvm is volume of air/volume of liquid/minute). Agitation means are provided, such as the propeller shown in the drawing. In a steady state the liquid will contain about 36,000 ppm suspended solids, some of the dissolved solids having been converted to suspended solids. It may have a BOD of 5,000 at the steady state, and the non-biodegradable dissolved solids will still remain at about 66,000. There is a means for collecting the foam resulting from the aeration and agitation and transferring it to the clarifier tank at a point above the liquid level in that tank. The tank in this drawing contains a partition extending below the level of the liquid to retain the foam in one part of the clarifier tank. A slit in the partition permits pressure equalization with the other part of the clarifier tank head. The foam can be broken more quickly by the use of standard techniques known in the art, if necessary. In that other part the treated SSL is drawn off by overflow, and transported out of the system as effluent.

The foam transferred from the fermentor to the clarifier exhibits a suspended solids content much lower than the material in the fermentor, typically around 12,000 ppm. The sludge from the clarifier is pumped through the sludge recycle mechanism back to the fermentor or aeration tank.This sludge typically contains around 36,000 to 45,000 ppm suspended solids. The system appears to provide a relatively quick settling sludge, for sludge densities of this type, which is recycled in accordance with good activated sludge practice, thus assisting in maintaining the autolytic activated sludge system. The effluent overflowing in the clarifier is brown in colour due to the presence of lignaceous materials. It has a BOD of around 4,800 ppm. It can be seen that there has been a considerable reduction in the BOD and dissolved solids, with a net decrease in the volume of the liquid. This is due to the evaporative effect of the off-gas stream. There is typically no production of sludge requiring disposal although there is always a small amount of suspended solids in the effluent from the clarifier.

TREATMENT OF SSL

The characteristics of typical SSL from the pulp mill digesters may be known from the following range of compositions found among filtered samples received from the Iroquois Falls Ontario plant over a period of three years.

    ______________________________________                                         pH:                2.9- 4.5                                                    BOD.sub.5 :        20,800- 33,900 ppm                                          COD:               80,900- 115,200 ppm                                         Dissolved Solids:  71,500- 111,700 ppm                                         Non-Settleable                                                                 Suspended Solids:  0- 200 ppm                                                  Portion of total                                                               BOD.sub.5 associated                                                           with non-settle-                                                               able suspended                                                                 solids:            up to 300 ppm                                               ______________________________________                                    

Spent sulfite liquor contains sufficient amounts of carbonaceous substrates and essential minerals for a prosperous biological system, but may be found to have insufficient amounts of nitrogen and phosphate under some conditions. As an example, the SSL used in many of these experiments has a chemical analysis as shown.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Mineral       Concentration (ppm)                                              ______________________________________                                         Ca.sup.++     190                                                              K.sup.+       125                                                              Mg.sup.++     28                                                               Al.sup.+++    7                                                                Fe.sup.++, Fe.sup.+++                                                                        7                                                                N(Kjeldahl)   6                                                                PO.sub.4.sup..tbd.                                                                           6                                                                ______________________________________                                    

We have found by tests conducted on SSL taken directly from the digesters of six different pulp mills, that the operative range of residual sulfur dioxide concentration was in the range of 0.24 to 0.78% weight/volume.

In the case of one sample of SSL it was found that enrichment with various nitrogen and phosphorus compounds improved the rate of COD (chemical oxygen demand) reduction.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                          Patch studies with 100 ml SSL in 500 ml shake flasks                          BOD.sub.5 :N:P = 75:5:1                                                                           COD reduction (%)                                           Chemicals tested   after 7 days of incubation                                  ______________________________________                                         NH.sub.4 H.sub.2 PO.sub.4                                                                         16.3                                                        Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 15.1                                                        K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4                                                              H.sub.3 PO.sub.4   14.5                                                        NH.sub.4 OH                                                                    Control (no chemicals added)                                                                      10.2                                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         BOD.sub.5 AND COD REDUCTION RANGES                                             Continuous reactor study in 8 liter reactor                                     BOD:N:P =  100:5:1                                                            Chemicals  BOD.sub.5, % Reduction                                                                         COD, % Reduction                                    ______________________________________                                         K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4                                                               +                                                                             KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4                                                                         60-84           15-28                                                +                                                                             NH.sub.4 OH                                                                    ______________________________________                                          The ratio of phosphates used:                                                  ##STR1##                                                                       -                                                                        

Table 4 shows a comparison between the results obtainable in the present process, as compared with prior art processes. In this table the following terms are used:

    ______________________________________                                         lb BOD/1000 cu ft                                                                          =     lb BOD applied per day, per 1000                                               cu ft of liquid volume in the                                                  aeration tank                                                lb BOD/lb mass                                                                             =     lb BOD applied per day, per lb                                                 SS in the aeration tank                                      Aeration Period                                                                            =     Retention time of the raw waste                                                water flow in the aeration tank,                                               expressed in hours                                           Average Return                                                                             =     Activated sludge returned, as a                              Sludge Rate       percentage of the raw waste water                                              influent                                                     SS          =     suspended solids                                             ______________________________________                                    

The prior art data in Table 4 is taken from Table 11-4, p. 507, Water Supply and Pollution Control, 2nd ed. Int'l Textbook Co., 1971, by Clark, Viessman and Hammer.

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     GENERAL LOADING AND OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS FOR                                 ACTIVATED-SLUDGE PROCESSES                                                                  BOD LOADING                                                                    Feed Fermentor                                                                             Aeration                                                                            Average Return                                                                          BOD Removal                                          lb of BOD                                                                            lb of BOD                                                                            Period,                                                                             Sludge Rates,                                                                           Efficiency,                             Process      1000 cu ft                                                                           lb SS hours                                                                               percent  percent                                 __________________________________________________________________________     HIGH RATE    100 up                                                                               0.5-1.0                                                                              2.5-3.5                                                                             100      85-90                                   (complete mixing)                                                              STEP AERATION                                                                               30-50 0.2-0.5                                                                              5.0-7.0                                                                              50      90-95                                   CONVENTIONAL 30-40 0.2-0.5                                                                              6.0-7.5                                                                              30      95                                      (tapered aeration)                                                             CONTACT      30-50 0.2-0.5                                                                              6.0-9.0                                                                             100      85-90                                   STABILIZATION                                                                  EXTENDED     10-30 0.05-0.2                                                                             20-30                                                                               100      85-95                                   AERATION                                                                       FOAM FLOTATION-                                                                             400   0.2   30-70                                                                               ≧ 30                                                                             80-90                                   AUTOLYTIC - (present                                                           process data)                                                                  __________________________________________________________________________

The present microbial system has been identified by taxonomy studies as being a mixture of five fungi being yeast and yeast-like bodies of these five species. The five species have been isolated from the mixed culture system several times under different conditions, e.g. from lyophilized material, repeatedly transferred stock culture, etc. Isolate No. 5 exhibited autolytic activity (in plate culture) and the capability to ferment and assimilate glucose, galactose, maltose and sucrose in liquid culture. Isolate No. 4 was also autolytic and assimilated sugars. The species were identified as follows:

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Mixed Culture, Microbial Population                                            ISO-                                                                           LATE  NAME AND MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES                                          NO.   (Plate Cultures on Agar)                                                 ______________________________________                                         1     Phialophora jeanselmei (Langeron) Emmons . . .                                 New colonies black and yeast-like, changing to                                 woolly green mycelial colonies producing spores                                in clusters at the tips of short stalks and long                               tapered phialides without collarettes.                                   2     Phialophora richardsiae (Nannfeldt apud Melin &                                Nannf.)....Velvety brown mycelial colonies producing                           single spores on flask shaped phialides with                                   conspicuous collarettes.                                                 3     Hyalodendron lignicola Diddens . . . Powdery white                             mycelial colonies with conidiophores bearing branched                          chains and clusters of spores. Refractile spore scars                    4     Trichosporon infestans (Moses & Vianna) Ciferri &                              Redaelli . . . New colonies white and yeast-like,                              changing to sparsely branched mycelial colonies                                with clusters of blastospores produced directly from                           hyphae at the junction of cells, also arthrospores                             produced by fragmentation of hyphae.                                     5     Candida tropicalis (Castellani) Berkhout . . .                                 White, paste-like colonies fringed by mycelia.                                 Blastospores produced in whorls directly from                                  unbranched hyphae at cell junctions. (In liquid                                culture, abundance of budding ovoid cells and                                  pseudomycelial fragments).                                               ______________________________________                                    

Thus the present invention has provided a microbial culture system acclimatized to undiluted SSL and having five principal components, all fungi, which have been identified through isolation and accepted taxonomical procedures as the following:

1. Phialophora jeanselmei (Langeron) Emmons

2. Phialophora richardsiae (Nannfeldt apud Melin & Nannf.)

3. Hyalodendron lignicola Diddens

4. Trichosporon infestans (Moses & Vianna) Ciferri & Redaelli

5. Candida tropicalis (Castellani) Berkout

Specimens of the identified isolates have been deposited in the following culture collections:

    ______________________________________                                         American Type Culture Collection                                               12301 Parklawn Drive                                                           Rockville, Maryland                                                            U.S.A.                July 1, 1976                                             ______________________________________                                         1. Accession No. ATCC 20,482                                                   2. Accession No. ATCC 20,483                                                   3. Accession No. ATCC 20,484                                                   4. Accession No. ATCC 20,485                                                   5. Accession No. ATCC 20,486                                                   ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                                Culture Collection                                                             The University of Western Ontario                                              London, Ontario                                                                Canada                                                                  ______________________________________                                         1. Accession No. UWO BE22                                                      2. Accession No. UWO BE05                                                      3. Accession No. UWO BE03                                                      4. Accession No. UWO BE32                                                      5. Accession No. UWO BE07                                                      ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 1

In the early stages the ability of the mixed culture system to remove BOD was partially inhibited by the sulfur dioxide in the SSL. By continuous exposure of the mixed culture system to increasing concentrations of SSL it was eventually adapted and acclimatized to the typical levels of sulfur dioxide and dissolved solids present in the undiluted waste. Table 6 shows the initial steps involved in adapting the sewage culture to full strength SSL.

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         Acclimatization of the Mixed                                                   Culture in Shake Flasks                                                                             Incubation                                                Steps                                                                               Culture Medium  Time (weeks)                                                                              Resulting Culture                              ______________________________________                                         1    Stock Culture                                                                             10 ml    1        A                                                 20% SSL    90 ml                                                          2    Culture A  10 ml    1        B                                                 40% SSL    90 ml                                                          3    Culture B  10 ml    1        C                                                 60% SSL    90 ml                                                          4    Culture C  10 ml    1        D                                                 80% SSL    90 ml                                                          5    Culture D  10 ml    1        Acclimatized                                      100% SSL   90 ml             Culture                                      ______________________________________                                    

The microbial system used was obtained from sewage containing the usual broad spectrum of bacteria, protozoa and fungi. It has been acclimatized to media based on spent sulfite liquor from three high-yield sulfite pulp mills. By selective enrichment the mixed culture system has been stabilized and maintained continuously for more than four years. The same five individual cultures have been consistently isolated from repeatedly transferred stock culture and from cultures obtained from freeze-dried and frozen material harvested from the pilot-scale reactor. These five cultures have been positively identified as known fungi; they represent the principal components of the system. Bacteria and protozoa have not been detected in this stable system, and do not appear to have the ability to adapt to the system. They do not contribute to the operation of the present process.

EXAMPLE 2

Foaming capability associated with a high yield sulfite spent liquor is shown in Table 7. These tests were conducted by aerating 200 ml of SSL at 0.188, 0.250 and 3.13 vvm (volume of air per volume of waste liquid, per minute) and measuring the foam generated. This was done by aerating exactly 5 minutes at the designated vvm, then halting the air flow and observing the rate of foam collapse. Time 0 is the moment the air flow is turned of. The foam is measured by intervals until it becomes stable (or up to 30 minutes.) The vvm is calculated by dividing the observed air flow rate (ml/minute), by the liquid volume (200 ml in this experiment). For example, with the pressure regulated to give a flow rate of 3.75 ml air/min., and 200 ml of SSL in the column, vvm=(37.5/200)=0.187. In Table 7 SS means suspended solids.

Table 7 shows that raw SSL and nutrient treated SSL at pH 3.9 and 7.0 respectively produce copious quantities of foam. Fermentation broth of SSL produced less foam at pH 3.0-3.2 but more than adequate quantities to operate the process.

On the basis of tests conducted on raw SSL we infer that the propensity of the fermentor broth to foam would not vary significantly over a pH range of 3 to 9. Also the rate of foam collapse remains approximately constant up to about the neutral point, above which it significantly decreases.

                                      TABLE 7                                      __________________________________________________________________________     RATE OF COLLAPSE OF FOAM                                                                   Volume of foam in ml at time shown                                        Aeration                                                                            time in minutes                                                    Liquid (vvm)                                                                               0  1  2  3  4  5  6  11 12                                                                               20                                                                               30                                     __________________________________________________________________________     "Raw" SSL                                                                             0.1875                                                                              85 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 25                                                                               25                                                                               25                                     pH of 3.9                                                                      and a SS of                                                                           0.2500                                                                              125                                                                               125                                                                               125                                                                               125                                                                               125                                                                               125                                                                               125                                                                               125                                                                               25                                                                               25                                                                               25                                     200 ppm                                                                               0.3125                                                                              220                                                                               220                                                                               220                                                                               220                                                                               220                                                                               220                                                                               220                                                                               220                                                                               30                                                                               30                                                                               30                                     SSL with                                                                              0.1875                                                                              75 75 75 15 15 15 15 15 12                                                                               10                                                                               10                                     nutrients                                                                      pH of 7.0                                                                             0.2500                                                                              120                                                                               120                                                                               120                                                                               15 15 15 15 12 10                                                                               10                                                                               10                                     SS of 200 ppm                                                                         0.3125                                                                              170                                                                               120                                                                               15 15 15 15 15 15 12                                                                               10                                                                               10                                     Fermentation                                                                          0.1875                                                                              40 25 7  3  0                                                      broth pH of                                                                    3.15 and SS                                                                           0.2500                                                                              50 30 10 3  0                                                      of 33,300 ppm                                                                         0.3125                                                                              155                                                                               100                                                                               40 15 5  2  0                                                __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 3

The mixed culture system used in this example represents a culture system which has been partially adapted to SSL and the typical levels of sulfur dioxide in SSL. This culture could grow in the presence of low levels of sulfur dioxide (0.32%) and demonstrated the potential for adapting to higher levels (0.50%). The capability of the mixture culture system to remove COD and adapt to 0.52% SO₂ is shown in Table 8. At levels of sulfur dioxide above 0.52% the mixed culture system is slightly inhibited but still operates satisfactorily. Levels of 1.0% sulfur dioxide can be expected to be far more inhibiting. This is an upper limit of levels encountered in the production processes. When the mixture culture was adapted to the higher levels of sulfur dioxide (greater than 0.32%) it showed an improved ability to remove the biodegradable organic components present in such a liquor.

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         Tolerance to SO.sub.2                                                          Tolerance Limit:                                                                          Maximum 0.32% SO.sub.2 (w/v) based only on                                     stepwise dilution of SSL, and use of the                                       original partially adapted culture.                                                          COD After 10 Days                                     SSL          SO.sub.2, % (w/v)                                                                          Incubating % Reduction                                ______________________________________                                         Original SSL 0.52        18                                                    Diluted SSL (60%)                                                                           0.32        29                                                    Stripped SSL,                                                                               0.32        30                                                    boiled 5 hr.                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 4

A continuous foam-activated sludge (mixed culture) process was operated in separate experiments in a 14 liter reactor for periods of 5, 6 and 78 days. Only foam-sludge was transferred to the clarifier and all solids were recycled to the activated sludge unit. No sludge wastage was required even when the continuous operation was run for 78 days. The percent removal of BOD and COD are shown in Table 9, with no allowances for increased concentration of effluent arising from aeration evaporation losses.

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         BOD.sub.5 and COD Removal by                                                   Foam-Activated Sludge Process                                                  Type of   Original Values of                                                                             Days     %                                           Experiment                                                                               COD, BOD.sub.5                                                                            (ppm)    Operated                                                                              Reduction                                 ______________________________________                                         Continuous Run                                                                           BOD.sub.5  24,000   5      75                                        No. 1     COD        100,000         25                                        Continuous Run                                                                 No. 2     BOD.sub.5  24,500   6      84                                        Continuous Run                                                                 No. 3     BOD.sub.5  23,000   78      79*                                      ______________________________________                                          *14 day average                                                          

EXAMPLE 5

A continuous foam-activated sludge experiment was conducted for 78 days in which the retention time of waste in the main activated sludge chamber was the main process variable evaluated. The experiment was conducted in a 14 liter CHEMAP reactor operated at an 8 liter capacity. The rate of recycle of sludge from the clarifier was maintained at 1.08 liter/day through the entire experiment. The daily percent BOD removal varied from 55 to 84. Absolutely no sludge wastage was required.

Some of the operating characteristics of the process during that period are summarized in Table 10.

EXAMPLE 6

Some wastes do not contain all the nutrients desired for optimum efficiency in operating an efficient bio-waste treatment process. Nutrients required by microbes as well defined in the literature. Sources of nitrogen and phosphorus often must be added to the waste to obtain rapid removal of waste organic compounds.

The levels of nutrients employed in this process are shown in Table II.

                                      TABLE 10                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Effect of Retention Time on Removal of BOD and Soluble Solids                  (based on SSL analysis before (and after) nutrient addition)                                                 BOD.sub.5                                                                             Soluble****                               Portion                                                                            Duration                                                                            SSL                  removal***                                                                            solids                                    of run*                                                                            of test                                                                             feed rate                                                                           Recycle/feed                                                                           Retention time**                                                                       %      removal                                   day no.                                                                            days liters/day                                                                          ratio   days    before                                                                             after                                                                             %                                         __________________________________________________________________________      5- 9                                                                               5   2.16 0.50    2.47    58  (61)                                                                              17                                        10-18                                                                               9   2.16 0.50    2.47    75  (77)                                                                              20                                        19-29                                                                              11   2.50 0.48    2.23    71  (73)                                                                              15                                        53-66                                                                              14   2.50 0.48    2.23    77  (79)                                                                              25                                        30-52                                                                              23   3.00 0.36    1.96    66  (69)                                                                              17                                        67-72                                                                               6   3.00 0.36    1.96    76  (78)                                                                              21                                        73-78                                                                               6   3.50 0.31    1.75    58  (61)                                                                              15                                        __________________________________________________________________________      *batchwise operation prior to day 5                                            **calculation of retention time in days (t'):                                  ##STR2##                                                                       where V = volume of liquid in reactor in liters                                F = feed rate in liters/day                                                    F' = sludge recycle rate in liters/day                                         ***uncorrected for evaporation effects                                         ****raw spend sulfite liquor to system at 8.9% dissolved solids          

                                      TABLE 11                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Mode of Operation and Nutrients Requirements                                                                 Added Weight                                                                            material                                          Incubation          Ratio    % Reduction                             Type of Study                                                                            (days)                                                                               Chemicals Added                                                                              BOD.sub.5 :N:P (gms)                                                                    COD BOD.sub.5                           __________________________________________________________________________     Batch operation in                                                                       7     NH.sub.4 H.sub.2 PO.sub.4                                                                    75:5:1   16.3                                                                               --                                  500 ml shake flasks                                                            containing 100 ml                                                                        7     Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2                                                                           75:5:1   15.1                                                                               --                                  of material                                                                              7     H.sub.3 PO.sub.4                                                                             75:5:1   14.5                                                                               --                                                  NH.sub.4 OH                                                              7     None(control).sup.a    10.2                                                                               --                                  Batch operation                                                                          4     K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4                                                                         2:1                                                                               100:5:1.sup.b                                                                           15  60                                  (Chemap).sup.c  KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4                                                                         mole                                                                NH.sub.4 OH                                                                               ratio                                                         7     same          same     --  84                                  Continuous                                                                               5     same          same     25  75                                  operation 6     same          same     --  84                                  (Chemap).sup.c                                                                           78                                                                             (nsw).sup.d                                                                          same          same     --  79.sup.e                            Continuous                                                                               132   same          same     28  84.sup.f                            operation 48                                                                             (nsw)                                                                liter Reactor                                                                  containing about                                                                          21   same          100:2.5:0.5                                                                             --  66.sup.g                            42 l. of material (nsw)                                                                   16   same           100:5:0.5                                                                              27  70.sup.h                                      (nsw)                                                                __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.a Untreated SSL levels: 6 ppm N, 5 ppm PO.sub.4                           .sup.b Equivalent to 1.33 g NH.sub.3, 0.82 g K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4, 0.32 g         KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4, along with approximately 2.0 g NaOH per liter of SSL        (as needed to adjust to pH 7)                                                  .sup.c Fourteen liter "Chemap" (trade mark) reactor containing 8 liters o      material .sup.d (nsw) No sludge wastage                                        .sup.e 14 day average                                                          .sup.f 11 day average                                                          .sup.g 14 day average                                                          .sup.h 7 day average                                                     

EXAMPLE 7

The following tables 12-14 show segments of the experiments described below, dealing with the 256 days of operation of the 48 liter reactor.

    ______________________________________                                         Summary of the                                                                 48 Liter Reactor Studies                                                       (1) Days 1- 87:                                                                               start up and harvesting mode experiments                        (2) Days 87- 219:                                                                             (132 days) autolytic operation at unchanged                                    chemical addition levels                                        (3) Days 219- 240:                                                                            (21 days) autolytic operation with no NaOH,                                    half previous NH.sub.3 level and half previous                                 phosphate level                                                 (4) Days 240- 256:                                                                            (16 days) autolytic operation with no NaOH,                                    NH.sub.3 restored to original level, but half                                  phosphate level maintained                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                         FEED CHEMICALS REDUCTION                                                       AND BOD.sub.5 ASSIMILATION TREND                                               Continuous Reactor Study in 48 Liter Reactor with nutrient                     chemicals added as K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4 ; KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 ; and NH.sub.4        OH.                                                                                                      Steady State                                         Segment of  Weight Ratio  BOD.sub.5 Reduction                                  Period      BOD:N:P       Range %                                              ______________________________________                                         2           100:5:1       80-88                                                3           100:2.5:0.5   61-68                                                4           100:5:0.5     63-78                                                ______________________________________                                    

Periods 3 and 4 cover a time during which additional pilot-scale laboratory studies were made, primarly to examine the feasibility of lowering the chemical requirement of the proposed industrial design. When operated continuously in the autolytic mode, the system could reasonably be expected to require minimal amounts of added nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in the feeding medium since these are not wasted in the form of harvested biomass. Also, a considerable saving in chemical cost could be achieved by eliminating the use of alkali and/or strong acid for neutralization of the SSL feeding medium, as the active culture is known to tolerate a fairly wide pH range.

Accordingly, two final reactor run periods 3 and 4 were made using reduced levels of nutrients in the feed, and omitting the neutralization step. In the first experiment levels of added ammonia and mixed phosphates in the feed were dropped to half their previous values. In the second, the lower level of phosphate was maintained but the ammonia level was restored to the previous higher value. There was no adjustment of feed pH in either experiment, but pH measurements were made after the nutrient additions. All other operating parameters were the same as for the previous optimum autolytic mode. Prior to the final experiments, the reactor had been maintained in this optimum mode without harvesting, although a small increse in the SS level was observed.

The results from these experiments indicate that substantial savings in chemical nutrient costs are possible without excessive loss of BOD removal efficiency.

In addition, for design purposes two sets of temperature change data were recorded for the pilot scale reactor system (during the maintenance period between periods 1 and 2) immediately following the temporary suspension of thermostatic controls. The "air in" and "air out" temperatures were measured by means of thermometers. The unjacketed reactor temperature was seen to decrease by only 5° C. over periods of eight and twelve hours respectively. These tests appear to demonstrate the close balance between energy input and output requirements of the system when operated in the autolytic mode.

    TABLE 13         % BOD.sub.5   REMOVAL CALCULATED Suspended (Based on BOD.sub.5 of      Feed Solids  24 Hours Previous) Added  (SS), ppm pH Dissolved Solids,      ppm BOD.sub.5, ppm  Corr-  Por- nutrients   Clari-   Clari-   Clari-      Clari-   ected OPERATING tion Weight   fier   fier    fier    fier   for      DATA of Ratio DayRe-Eff-Re- Eff- "Raw" Prep'd Re- Eff- "Raw" Prep'd Re-      Eff- Ob-  Evap- FOR Run BOD:N:P No. actor luent feed actor luent SSL      Feed actor luent SSL Feed actor luent served  oration FERMENTOR SYSTEM         100:5:1 1 30,500 -- 7.0 4.4 -- 72,100 76,900 66,300 -- 21,500 22,000  7      ,100 -- --    -- Calculated BOD.sub.5 Loading,  ↓ 2 28,000 1,100      ↓ 4.4 3.6 ↓ ↓ 68,700 69,200 ↓ ↓      6,700  6,400 71     295 g/day or 0.65 lb/day  (Maximum 3 29,200 --      ↓ 4.8 -- ↓ ↓ 66,000 -- ↓ ↓  7,000 --      --  chemicals 4 28,500 1,500 ↓ 5.3 4.7 ↓ ↓ 66,900      65,600 ↓ ↓  7,400  6,300 71    81 2 addition; 5 28,400 --      ↓ 4.4 -- 70,600 74,400 68,400 -- 23,300 23,900  7,000 -- --    --      Calculated BOD.sub.5 Removal,  ↓ 6 32,300 2,800 ↓ 3.7 4.4      ↓ ↓ 64,200 65,000 ↓ ↓  5,700  5,400 77    85      248 g/day or 0.55 lb/day  NaOH added 7 32,400 -- ↓ 3.5 --      ↓ ↓ 66,000 -- ↓ ↓  4,300 -- --    --  to      adjust 8 28,400 -- ↓ 3.3 -- ↓ ↓ 65,400 -- ↓      ↓  5,600 ---- -- Recycle/feed ratio, feed pH to 9 29,200 1,600      ↓ 3.0 3.4 ↓ ↓ 64,800 65,100 ↓ ↓      4,400  4,900 80    86 F'/F= 0.432  7) 10  30,100 -- ↓ 2.9 --      ↓ ↓ 63,000 -- ↓ ↓  5,400 -- --    --      ↓ 11  30,200 1,200 ↓ 2.9 3.0 ↓ ↓ 66,200      67,300 ↓ ↓  5,200 4,30082    88 Retention Time = 2.23 days        Aver-                   Aeration = 0.60 v.v.m.  ↓ ages: 29,700      1,600 7.0 3.9 3.8 71,400 75,600 66,000 66,400 22,400 23,000  6,000      5,500 76    84  100:2.5:0.5 1 46,500 2,500 5.8 2.4 2.4     23,300 24,100      11,000 10,400 57    68  ↓ 2 45,300 1,900 ↓ 2.3 2.4      ↓ ↓ 11,800 11,000 54   67  (minimum 3 45,700 1,500 6.0 2.2      2.4     25,100 26,600 11,000 11,500 52    65 Same as above,  chemicals 4      44,400 1,300 ↓ 2.2 2.3     ↓ ↓ 11,600 11,900 55      67  addition) 5 44,700 1,700 ↓ 2.2 2.3     ↓ ↓      12,300 11,900 55    67 except  ↓ 6 44,400 1,300 6.0 2.2 2.3      24,600 24,000 12,600 11,800 56    68 3 (no NaOH) 7 45,500 1,300 ↓ 2      .2 2.4 (NO DISSOLVED ↓ ↓ 12,200 10,900 54    67 Calculated      BOD.sub.5 Removal  ↓ 8 45,600 1,000 ↓ 2.3 2.4 SOLIDS DATA)      ↓ ↓ 11,600 10,500 55    68 (based on 66% average)      ↓ 9 45,200 -- ↓ 2.2 --  ↓ ↓ -- -- --    -- =      194 g/day or 0.43  ↓ 10  45,200 1,100 ↓ 2.2 2.4  ↓      ↓ 11,200 11,200 53    66 lb/day  ↓ 11  44,800 1,000 6.0      2.2 2.3  23,300 24,100 12,300 12,200 49    63  ↓ 12  45,500 1,200      ↓ 2.4 2.4  ↓ ↓ 13,500 12,700 47    61  ↓ 13      41,000 1,200 ↓ 2.3 2.4 ↓ ↓ 12,800 11,800 51    64      ↓ 14  41,700   700 ↓ 2.3 2.2  ↓ ↓ 12,200      11,800 51    64   Aver-  ↓ ages: 44,700 1,400 6.0 2.3 2.4  24,100      24,700 12,000 11,500 53    66  100:5:0.5 1 44,600 1,600 6.8 2.2 2.3      ↓ 23,200 11,900 12,600 46    52  ↓ 2 44,500 2,200 ↓      2.4 2.4  ↓ ↓ 11,400 12,600 46    52  (lowered 3 44,000      1,600 7.6 2.6 2.6  ↓ 23,000 10,400 12,200 47    53 Same as above,       phosphates, 4 43,400 1,600 ↓ 3.0 3.0  ↓ ↓ 10,200      10,400 55    59 4 no NaOH) 5 41,500 1,100 ↓ 3.3 3.2  ↓      ↓  9,800 10,400 55    59 except  ↓ 6 -- -- 7.3 -- --      24,100 24,400 -- -- --    -- Calculated BOD.sub.5 Removal  ↓ 7      41,900 1,000 ↓ 4.8 4.6 (NO DISSOLVED ↓ ↓ 10,100      10,100 59    63 (based on 70% Average)  ↓ 8 42,800 1,300 ↓      4.8 4.6 SOLIDS DATA) ↓ ↓  8,900 10,000 59    63 = 206      g/day or 0.45  ↓ 9 43,300   700 ↓ 4.9 5.0  ↓      ↓  8,800  9,200 62   Av.  66 lb/day  ↓ 10  43,900 4,000      8.0 5.5 5.4  23,000 23,500  8,300  8,400 66   70  69  ↓ 11      47,900 1,200 ↓ 6.1 5.7  ↓ ↓  7,200  7,900 67  Av.      70  ↓ 12  49,200 3,200 ↓ 6.5 5.8  ↓ ↓  7,400       8,500 64  66  68  ↓ 13  -- -- ↓ -- --  ↓ ↓      -- -- --    --  ↓ 14  53,900 1,100 ↓ 6.6 6.0  ↓      ↓  6,200  6,400 73    76  ↓ 15  51,200   800 ↓ 6.6      5.8  ↓ ↓ 5,800  6,000 75    78   Aver-  ↓ ages:      45,500 1,600 7.4 4.6 4.3  23,600 23,500  9,000       9,600 60    64

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                         SUMMARY OF AVERAGES OF DATA FROM BEST                                          PERIODS, THREE LEVELS OF NUTRIENT CHEMICALS -IN 48 LITER FERMENTOR             SYSTEM                                                                         PERIOD            2       3         4                                          ______________________________________                                         Weight Ratio,                                                                            BOD.sub.5 :N:P                                                                             100:5:1 100:2.5:0.5                                                                            100:5:0.5                                Av. SS, ppm                                                                              Reactor Broth                                                                              29,700  44,700  45,500                                             Clarifier   1,600   1,400   1,600                                              Effluent                                                             Av. pH    Feed        7.0     6.0     7.4                                                Reactor Broth                                                                              3.9     2.3     4.6                                                Clarifier   3.8     2.4     4.3                                                Effluent                                                             Av. Dissolved                                                                            "Raw" SSL   71,400  --      --                                       Solids ppm                                                                               Prepared Feed                                                                              75,600  --      --                                                 Reactor Broth                                                                              66,000  --      --                                                 Clarifier   66,400  --      --                                                 Effluent                                                             Av. BOD.sub.5, ppm                                                                       "Raw" SSL   22,400  24,100  23,600                                             Prepared Feed                                                                              23,000  24,700  23,500                                             Reactor Broth                                                                              6,000   12,000  9,000                                              Clarifier   5,500   11,500  9,600                                              Effluent                                                             Av. % BOD.sub.5 Removal, Calc'd                                                 A. Uncorrected   76      53        60 (66*)                                    B. Corrected for Evap'n                                                                         84      66        64 (70*)                                   Av. Daily BOD.sub.5 Loading,                                                                     295 g   295 g     295 g                                      Calc' d                                                                        Av. Daily BOD.sub.5 Loading,                                                                     0.65 lb 0.65 lb   0.65 lb                                    Calc'd                                                                         Av. Daily BOD.sub.5 Removed,                                                                     248 g   194 g     206 g*                                     Calc'd                                                                         Av. Daily BOD.sub.5 Removed,                                                                     0.55    0.43 lb   0.45 lb*                                   Calc'd                                                                         ______________________________________                                          All Periods, Recycle/Feed ratio = F'/F = 0.432                                 Reactor Retention time = 2.23 days                                             Aeration: = 0.60 vvm                                                           *Average BOD.sub.5 removal for final eight days.                         

EXAMPLE 8

Large Scale Continuous Fermentation

A scaled up, preliminary process design is based on the estimated output os undiluted SSL at the Iroquois Falls pulp mill, 310,000 IG/day, as shown in Table 15. These values were calculated for maximum nutrient levels, period 2 of Example 7.

                  TABLE 15                                                         ______________________________________                                         PROCESS DESIGN SUMMARY                                                         ______________________________________                                         SSL Flow Rate        310,000 IG/day                                            COD Loading Rate     310,000 Lb/day                                            BOD.sub.5 Loading Rate                                                                              75,000 Lb/day                                             Dissolved Solids Loading Rate                                                                       280,000 Lb/day                                            K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4 Requirement                                                                       1.28 Tons/day                                             KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 Requirement                                                                       0.50 Tons/day                                             NH.sub.3 Requirement 2.06 Tons/day                                             NaOH Requirement     3.10 Tons/day                                             Volume of Aeration Tank                                                                             192,000 Ft.sup.3                                          Depth of Aeration Tank                                                                              40-50 Ft                                                  Head Space of Aeration Tank                                                                         3-6 Ft                                                    Oxygen Requirement                                                              (a) Based on ultimate BOD                                                                          92,500 Lb O.sub.2 /day                                     (b) Based on BOD.sub.5                                                                             62,900 Lb O.sub.2 /day                                    Aeration Tank Retention Time                                                                        2.23 Days                                                 Power Requirement for                                                           Deep Tank Reactor                                                              (a) Mixing Requirement                                                                             69.5 HP                                                    (b) Oxygenation Requirement                                                                        1100 HP                                                   Cooling Water Requirement                                                       For Deep Tank Reactor                                                                              5,000 Tons Water/day                                       (Based on 10% evaporation loss)                                               Heating Requirement                                                             For Deep Tank Reactor                                                                              158 × 10.sup.3 Lb steam/day                          (Based on 20% evaporation loss)                                                                    (Saturated, 212° F.,                                                    one atm.)                                                 Clarifier Area Requirement                                                                          5,200 Ft.sup.2                                            Clarifier Depth      12 Ft                                                     Clarifier Retention Time                                                                            1 Day (approx.)                                           ______________________________________                                         Recalculated Chemical Requirements for Period 4 of Example 7.                         K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4                                                                          0.64 tons/day                                                      KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4                                                                          0.25 tons/day                                                      NH.sub.3    2.06 tons/day                                                      NaOH        none                                                        ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 9

A study was made to determine the difference in settling behavior between the fermentor broth and the collapsed foam from the material in the clarifier. It was found that the collapsed foam settled much more rapidly. Table 16 shows the rapid settling of the collapsed foam material compared to undiluted fermentor broth. Even when diluted to the same suspended solids concentration the fermentor broth settled more slowly.

Corresponding 1000 ml samples of collapsed foam and liquid reactor broth were collected during continuous operation of the pilot-scale apparatus in the optimum mode for BOD removal, as set out in Example 7.

Suspended solids levels (SS) were determined in both samples. Settling rate studies for both samples at full strength were made by recording the levels of settled sludge in 1000 ml graduated cylinders at 15 minute intervals for periods up to 150 minutes. Parallel studies were made substituting:

(a) a 1:1 dilution of the collapsed foam

(b) a calculated dilution of the reactor broth having the same SS as the full strength collapsed foam, and

(c) a calculated dilution of the reactor broth having the same SS as the 1:1 collapsed foam (a).

Sludge in the collapsed foam settled much more rapidly than that in the reactor broth. Improved reactor broth settling was obtained by diluting it approximately 3x to the same SS as the collapsed foam. When diluted to Ss of about 8000 ppm the settling rates were more nearly in agreement but the solids in collapsed foam still settled much more rapidly.

                  TABLE 16                                                         ______________________________________                                         SLUDGE SETTLING RATES IN COLLAPSED                                             FOAM AND REACTOR BROTH                                                                             SET-                                                                           TLED                                                                  SUS-     SLUDGE    CLARI- SLUDGE                                               PEN-     VOL-      FIED   SET-                                                 DED      UME       ZONE   TLING                                     SAMPLE     SOLIDS   ml        ml     RATE                                      DESCRIPTION                                                                               ppm      (30 min.) (30 min.)                                                                             calculated*                               ______________________________________                                         Collapsed Foam,                                                                full strength                                                                             16,600   970       30     120                                       Collapsed Foam,                                                                1:1 dilution                                                                               8,300   900       100    290                                       Reactor Broth,                                                                 full strength                                                                             48,400   1,000      0     <2                                        Reactor Broth,                                                                 diluted    16,600   990       10      15                                       Reactor Broth,                                                                 diluted     8,300   945       55     190                                       ______________________________________                                          *ml decrease in sludge/hour: calculated from slope of curve from data          plotted as sludge volume vs. time elapsed.                               

COMPARISON WITH OTHER ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESSES

Operational characteristics of the autolytic mode which produced maximum BOD removal were calculated in accordance with Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., Wastewater Engineering: Collection, Treatment, Disposal, McGraw-Hill, N.Y., pp. 393-403; and pp. 497-498 (1972) and compared with those of other modifications of the activated sludge process. Several of these known processes claim 85% BOD removal efficiency also, but are restricted to handling much less concentrated waste. The mean cell residence time, θ_(c) , is defined by ##EQU1## where X_(m) is the total biomass in the system and (ΔX/Δt_(m)) is the biomass withdrawn daily from the system. This material is wasted as unsettleable solids in the treated effluent. The calculated θ_(c) value was 95 days, or from three to twenty times longer than any of the conventional processes including extended aeration (max. 30 days). It is expected that the present process will yield a mean cell residence time higher than 30 days, and in most cases 60 or higher. In a more preferred form it should yield a mean cell residence time of 90 days or higher.

The recycle ratio, Q_(r) /Q is the ratio of the flow rate of recycled sludge to that of fresh feed. Here the calculated value was 0.43, within the range of 0.25 to 0.50 for the other processes. The food-to-microorganism ratio, U, was 0.23 lb. BOD₅ /lb MLVSS-day, or generally similar to that for other processes with the exception of modified-aeration (U=1.55.0). The volumetric BOD loading, however, was calculated to be 1,430 lb BOD₅ /1000 cu. ft. This is ten to one hundred times as high as any of the others possibly excepting the high-rate process (100-1000 lb/cu.ft.). The reactor MLSS was 30,000 mg/liter, generally ten times higher than for conventional treatment processes. Experience has shown that even higher levels, up to 55,000 mg/liter can be tolerated.

The (reactor) hydraulic retention time, V/Q was 2.23 days (54 hours), somewhat longer than average; the maximum cited for the extended aeration process was 36 hours. For the treatment system as a whole, including the clarifier, the hydraulic retention time was calculated to be 3.0 days.

While we have described some forms of our invention, including the best modes known to us for carrying out the invention, the protection afforded to this invention should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. A method of biodegrading a spent sulfite liquor having a dissolved solids content of 6 to 14% by an autolytic mixed fungal (yeast and yeast-like) system, consisting essentially of the steps of(a) feeding said liquor to a mixed fungal (yeast and yeast-like) inoculated fermentor with agitation and with aeration, resulting in foaming of the mixture, said foam carrying with its fungus and sludge resulting from the fermentation, the suspended solids content of the foam when collapsed being lower than the suspended solids content of the fermentor broth, (b) undertaking material transfer only by conducting said foam to a means for separation into a sludge and a clarified effluent, (c) separating said foam into a sludge and a clarified effluent, and (d) recycling at least a portion of the separated sludge to step (a).
 2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the dissolved solids content of the spent sulfite liquor is 8 to 10%.
 3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the suspended solids content of the foam is not more than half that of the fermentor broth.
 4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the suspended solids content of the foam is about 1/3 of that of the fermentor broth.
 5. A method as in claim 1 wherein the suspended solids content of the foam is 1/4 to 1/3 that of the fermentor broth.
 6. A method as in claim 1 comprising adding nutrient material for the fungi to the spent sulfite liquor.
 7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said nutrient medium includes added material selected from the group consisting of ammonia and phosphates.
 8. A method as in claim 1 comprising adjusting the pH of spent sulfite liquor to a mildly acid or neutral pH.
 9. A method as in claim 1 wherein the recycling of sludge to the fermentor tank is controlled where necessary to maintain the suspended solids in the fermentor vessel at not greater than 60,000 parts per million.
 10. A method as in claim 1 wherein all of the settled sludge is recycled to the fermentor tank.
 11. A method as in claim 1 wherein the degree of recycling and the rate of feeding of fresh liquor are held at a level at which constant autolysis may be maintained.
 12. A method as in claim 1 in which the extent to which the sludge is recycled and the ratio of sludge which is recycled is maintained at a level at which an optimum condition for autolysis of the fermentation broth is maintained.
 13. A method as in claim 1 wherein the clarification of the foam is effected by gravity separation of solids, with underflow of settled sludge and overflow of treated clarified liquor.
 14. A method as in claim 1, wherein the pH of said spent sulfite liquor is adjusted with lime or sodium hydroxide.
 15. A method as in claim 1, wherein the fermentation is carried out at a temperature range from 8° to 40° C.
 16. A method as in claim 1 utilizing a fermentor broth biomass with a suspended solids concentration ranging from 10,000 to 60,000 ppm and employing a fermentor retention time of 1.5 to 4 days and a clarifier retention time of 0.2 to 2 days.
 17. A method as in claim 16 wherein the fermentor retention time is 2.2 days and the clarifier retention time is 1 day.
 18. A method as in claim 1 in which the suspended solids in the fermentor is maintained between 10,000 and 60,000 ppm.
 19. A method as in claim 18 wherein the suspended solids is maintained at 35,000 ppm.
 20. A method as in claim 1 in which the pH in the fermentor is maintained between 2 to 8.5.
 21. A method as in claim 20 wherein the pH is around 3.3
 22. A method as in claim 1 in which the dissolved oxygen level in the fermentor is not less than 0.3 ppm.
 23. A method as in claim 22 wherein the dissolved oxygen level is between 1.5 to 5 ppm.
 24. A method as in claim 1 in which the temperature of the fermentor is 10 to 35° C.
 25. A method as in claim 24 wherein the temperature is between 30 to 35° C.
 26. A method as in claim 1, with inorganic nutrient feeding to the fermentor to improve the BOD removal and autolysis, in which NH₃ is added over a range of 400 to 4,000 ppm and total phosphate added in a range 400 to 4,000 ppm and with sufficient caustic to maintain an acceptable pH.
 27. A method as in claim 26 wherein the NH₃ concentration is 1,330 ppm, and phosphate is 1,140 ppm.
 28. A method as in claim 26 wherein general BOD₅ :N:P ratio is 100:5:1.
 29. A method as in claim 1 in which all foam constituents are transferred by an air stream from the aeration vessel to the solid/liquids separator.
 30. A method as in claim 1 in which the suspended solids concentration of the foam is from 1000 to 30,000 ppm.
 31. A method as in claim 30 wherein the suspended solids is 12,000 ppm.
 32. A method as in claim 1, wherein the mean cell residence time, ##EQU2## where X_(m) is the total biomass in the system and (ΔX/Δt_(m)) is the biomass withdrawn daily from the system) of the process is greater than 30 days.
 33. A method as in claim 32 wherein the mean cell residence time is at least 60 days.
 34. A method as in claim 32 wherein the mean cell residence time is at least 90 days.
 35. The method of claim 1 wherein said autolytic mixed fungal (yeast or yeast-like) system is a microbial culture system acclimatized to SSL and having at least one of the following fungal components, which have been identified through isolation and accepted taxonomical procedures:1. Phialophora jeanselmei (Langeron) Emmons (ATCC 20, 482)
 2. Phialophora richardsiae (Nannfeldt apud Melin & Nannf.) Conant (ATCC 20,483)
 3. Hyalodendron lignicola Diddens (ATCC 20,484)4. Trichosporon infestans (Moses & Vianna) Ciferri & Redaelli (ATCC 20,485)
 5. Candida tropicalis (Castellani) Berkout (ATCC 20, 486).
 36. A method as in claim 35 wherein the mean cell residence time, ##EQU3## where X_(m) is the total biomass in the system and (ΔX/Δt)_(m) is the biomass withdrawn daily from the system) of the process is greater than 30 days.
 37. The method of claim 1 wherein said autolytic mixed fungal (yeast or yeast-like) system is a microbial culture system acclimatized to SSL and having five principal components, all fungi, which have been identified through isolation and accepted taxonomical procedures as the following:1. Phialophora jeanselmei (Langeron) Emmons (ATCC 20, 482)
 2. Phialophora richardsiae (Nannfeldt apud Melin & Nannf.) Conant (ATCC 20,483)
 3. Hyalodendron lignicola (Diddens (ATCC 20,484)
 4. Trichosporon infestans (Moses & Vianna) Ciferri & Redaelli (ATCC 20,485)
 5. Candida tropicalis (Castellani) Berkout (ATCC 20, 486).
 38. A method as in claim 37 wherein the mean cell residence time, ##EQU4## where X_(m) is the total biomass withdrawn daily from the system) is greater than 30 days.
 39. A method as in claim 1 wherein the sport sulfite liquor is rich in soluble carbohydrates.
 40. A method as in claim 1 wherein substantially all of the settled sludge is recycled back to the fermentor tank.
 41. A method for removing BOD and COD from a spent sulfite liquor (SSL), said method comprisingtreating a spent sulfite liquor containing saccharides and lignosulfonates with a mixed culture system operating in an autolytic mode or a protein-producing mode, aerating and agitating the mixed culture system-treated spent sulfite liquor in a closed fermentor tank, passing the resulting mixture to a clarifier tank to form sludge and a waste liquor, collecting sludge settling from the passed mixture, recycling at least a portion of the settled sludge back to the fermentor tank, and removing the waste liquor, said mixed culture system comprising a microbial culture system acclimatized to SSL and having five principal components, all fungi, which have been identified through isolation and accepted taxonomical procedures as the following:
 1. Phialophora jeanselmei (Langeron) Emmons (ATCC 20,482)2. Phialophora richardsiae (Nannfeldt apud Melin & Nannf.) Conant (ATCC 20,483)
 3. Hyalodendron lignicola Diddens (ATCC 20,484)
 4. Trichosporon infestans (Moses & Vianna) Ciferri & Redaelli (ATCC 20,485)
 5. Candida tropicalis (Castellani) Berkout (ATCC 20,486).
 42. A method of removing BOD and COD from a spent sulfite liquor (SSL), said method comprising:treating a spent sulfite liquor containing saccharides and lignosulfonates with a microbial culture system, aerating and agitating the microbial culture system-treated spent sulfite liquor in a closed fermentor tank, passing the resulting mixture to a clarifier tank to form sludge and a waste liquor, collecting sludge settling from the passed mixture, recycling at least a portion of the settled sludge back to the fermentor tank, and removing the waste liquor, said microbial system being acclimatized to SSL and having at least one of the following fungal components, which have been identified through isolation and accepted taxonomical procedures:
 1. Phialophora jeanselmei (Langeron) Emmons (ATCC 20,482)
 2. Phialophora richardsiae (Nannfeldt apud Melin & Nannf.) Conant (ATCC 20,483)
 3. Hyalodendron lignicola Diddens (ATCC 20,484)
 4. Trichosporon infestans (Moses & Vianna) Ciferri & Redaelli (ATCC 20,485)
 5. Candida tropicalis (Castellani) Berkout (ATCC 20,486).
 43. A method for removing BOD and COD from a process waste liquor comprisingtreating said process waste liquor with a mixed culture system operating in an autolytic mode or a protein-producing mode, the mixed culture system comprising a microbial culture system acclimatized to SSL and having five principal components, all fungi, which have been identified through isolation and accepted taxonomical procedures as the following:
 1. Phialophora jeanselmei (Langeron) Emmons (ATCC 20,482)
 2. Phialophora richardsiae (Nannfeldt apud Melin & Nannf.) Conant (ATCC 20,483)
 3. Hyalodendron lignicola Diddens (ATCC 20,484)
 4. Trichorsporon infestans (Moses & Vianna) Ciferri & Redaelli (ATCC 20,485)
 5. Candida tropicalis (Castellani) Berkout (ATCC 20,486).
 44. A method for removing BOD and COD from a process waste liquor comprisingtreating said process waste liquor with a microbial culture system, said microbial culture system being acclimatized to SSL and having at least one of the following fungal components, which have been identified through isolation and accepted taxonomical procedures:
 1. Phialophora jeanselmei (Langeron) Emmons (ATCC 20,482)
 2. Phialophora richardsiae (Nannfeldt apud Melin & Nannf.) Conant (ATCC 20,483)
 3. Hyalodendron lignicola Diddens (ATCC 20,484)
 4. Trichosporon infestans (Moses & Vianna) Ciferri & Radaelli (ATCC 20,485)
 5. Candida tropicalis (Castellani) Berkout (ATCC 20,486). 